Rapidemic went from being a student project at Leiden University to raising more than €1 million in investments. In the future, they want to play a pivotal role in the healthcare revolution.
How does a student project get this far? Good question. Violette Defourt, CEO of Rapidemic, tells us all about it.
What is Rapidemic?
Remember COVID-19 rapid tests? Rapidemic is developing something similar, but for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The company develops a molecular point-of-care test for a fast and accurate diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections. Their current tests are specifically for chlamydia and gonorrhoea, but they plan to expand to other pathogens in the future.
Why? “Rapidemic was born from the idea that we need to bring laboratory diagnostics closer to the patient,” explains Violette.
In practice, this means that diagnostics should be faster and more accessible. With their tests, not only could people get their results immediately at the clinic when tested, but eventually, they could just take STI tests in the privacy of their own homes.
How did Rapidemic get started?
Before Rapidemic was what it is today, it was a student project. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 showed that “there are accurate laboratory tests, but their implementation is often just not fast enough. That’s why the virus spread quickly.”
Though scientifically, the initial project had a different idea, the vision was the same: developing a point-of-care, laboratory-independent, rapid test that can be deployed in non-laboratory settings.
“We started as a team in a student project for an international biotech competition organized by MIT. It’s called iGEM,” Violette explains. “You don’t actually enter to win; you enter for the experience – and because you get to go to Boston,” she laughs.
Well, believe it or not: that year, the team from Leiden won!
From there, Rapidemic gained some momentum, and eventually, the student project evolved into the startup it is today.
Following their success, a few people from the project wanted to continue working to see how far they could take their vision. “It started to run well, so we played around with it, had some ups and downs and learned a lot,” Violette says.
“I think it’s fair to say that the first year was more of a practice run,” she admits. “But today we have a much stronger focus, and a fantastic network – and that means a lot to us.”
What role does PLNT play in Rapidemic’s StartUp story?
Rapidemic’s research team has their labs at Leiden Bio Science Park – so technically they don’t need an office at PLNT – but they choose to do so anyway. “PLNT is just a great way to get inspired,” says Dr. K., “and it’s a great way to get inspired.”
“When you’re in the lab, it’s more clinical, but at PLNT you just feel an entrepreneurial spirit – and that’s really important for our growth.”
The PLNT network has had a huge impact on Rapidemic’s growth: “Everything we have today is 100% due to our network, and PLNT has really helped us provide that.”
“Especially Stéfan Ellenbroek, program director of unlock_, has helped us a lot. I regularly talk to all kinds of inspiring people and I like to learn from their experiences,” Violette says.
How does Rapidemic help people?
This seems obvious – we all know that STDs are a global problem. However, the actual numbers still come as quite a shock.
Violette explains to us: “About one million STDs are acquired every day.” Sounds like a lot? Well, Violette explains that “those are only the ones that are reported by the WHO. “And when you talk to WHO, you find out how few of them are reported.”
So in reality, there are many, many more STDs circulating every day. and they are a concerning medical issue, here and around the world.
By developing a test that can provide quick results, infected people can take preventive measures to prevent the spread of infection, thus helping to reduce the overall prevalence of STDs.
This proactive approach to STI testing can play a vital role in promoting public health and fostering responsible sexual behaviour.
What’s in store for Rapidemic’s future?
The next big step for Rapidemic is to get its test on the market in different areas of the world. After that, they also want to address other unmet medical needs in the diagnostic industry.
“We want to start with STDs, but we won’t stop there. There is a need for more decentralized techniques in all areas of diagnostics.”
But “STDs are the first place where this revolution is going to start – because it really is a revolution,” Violette says. “I think this technology will cover the whole spectrum of health care.”
“And Rapidemic wants to play a key role in all of this.”